The leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has assured party members and Nigerians that its 2027 presidential primaries will remain competitive and open to all aspirants, despite the growing wave of endorsements for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid.
Addressing journalists at the APC national secretariat in Abuja, the National Organising Secretary, Sulaiman Mohammad Argungu, explained that the endorsements from the National Working Committee (NWC), the Progressives Governors Forum (PGF) led by Senator Hope Uzodinma, and the National Assembly (NASS) under Senator Godswill Akpabio were a reflection of Tinubu’s performance.
Argungu, however, clarified that these gestures do not amount to an automatic ticket for the president. He said, “We will definitely not close our doors (other Presidential aspirants). When the time comes, our timetable will be made known. Anybody who wants to aspire for the presidency under the APC will not be denied the opportunity to purchase the expression of interest and nomination forms to exercise their franchise.”
The party, he added, would not follow the precedent of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2014, when it reserved the ticket solely for then-President Goodluck Jonathan.
He explained, “We never said we had locked the door. We are only telling people that we appreciate what the President is doing for the people of the country and that he deserves a second term in office when we roundly endorsed him recently.”
On the outcome of the recent by-elections, Argungu said the APC’s victory in 13 of the 16 contested seats was a demonstration of the people’s confidence in the party’s leadership.
“These victories are not just statistics; they demonstrate the strength, resilience, and growing acceptance of our party nationwide,” he noted.
Political observers believe this clarification is aimed at dousing tensions within the APC as it seeks to consolidate its base while preparing for a potentially competitive 2027 election season.